Senate Dems introducing the “Team USA Made in America Act of 2012.” Seriously.

posted at 8:01 pm on July 13, 2012 by Erika Johnsen

I’m having trouble typing this, because I absolutely cannot stop laughing — it’s just that absurd. But sadly, as ever, I only laugh to keep from weeping. I mean… is this real? Are they serious?

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said we should “burn” the Team USA uniforms that Ralph Lauren designed for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, because they were manufactured overseas — just like 98 percent of the clothing purchased in America everyday. I thought it was just Harry Reid being Harry Reid, but apparently, the Senate Democrats are mounting a full-frontal legislative assault on this ostensible travesty of justice. …The term “fundamentally unserious” springs to mind:

Six U.S. senators put out a statement late Friday detailing the bill, saying it will require the committee to adopt a policy that ensures ceremonial uniforms are “sewn or assembled in the United States.”

“The U.S. Olympic Committee was 100 percent wrong to outsource the manufacturing of U.S. uniforms for the opening ceremony to China,” Sen. Bob Casey. D-Pa., one of the sponsors, said. …

The lawmakers introducing the bill signaled it would be applied to future Olympics, but continued to call on the Olympic Committee to “do the right thing for this summer’s team” by soliciting new, made-in-the-USA uniforms. …

But Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is also sponsoring the new bill, called on the committee to use an American company, suggesting Rochester-based suit maker Hickey Freeman as an ideal candidate for the job. He also said the New York state firm would be “thrilled” to partner with Ralph Lauren provided Ralph Lauren wants to make the uniforms stateside.

Wow, guys. What with your sense of petty big-government interference in this privately-funded endeavor, with your appallingly misaligned priorities with the country in economic crisis, and with your clamorous disapproval of Republicans’ “show votes,” you’ve truly outdone yourselves.

I take umbrage — So. Much. Umbrage. — with politicians who imply that “protectionism” and “patriotism” are the same thing, because they aren’t. If we made everything in America, just for the sake of making everything in America, we would be vastly poorer. Think about it: What if you made and did everything for yourself, just for the sake of being self-sufficient? What if all of your food, clothing, shelter, tools, etcetera were the product of your own two hands, without any specialized employment in which you earned money to buy these things? How much more rich and well-off do you think you’d be? You wouldn’t, because obtaining things from wherever and whomever they are best, least expensively, and most efficiently produced is the most effective route to having more things, a.k.a economic growth. Pandering to faux populist outrage should not be on our legislative to-do list.

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Also, the TEAM USA is private is a load of crap. Most of the money comes from Corporate sponsorship. You don’t see Coke giving tens of millions to the Iceland team do you? The government doesn’t need to pony up any money because there are plenty of sponsors willing too. It doesn’t change the fact that sending a team to the Olympics is a government function. We mandated the US Olympic Committee to do it.

I looked in on the comments about this yesterday and then I went to the Ralph Lauren site to see the uniforms for myself.

Not only are they ugly, but they’re boring.

The men’s dress uniform has that slight Special Forces vibe to it with the beret, but even if I found the women’s dress version in a thrift shop, I still wouldn’t buy it and consider it a find. The remainder of the line is nothing to write home about either; I know a designer can do only so much with hoodies, t-shirts, polo shirts and jersey dresses, but that’s why they’re paid the (supposed) big bucks — to come up with something fresh within the current standards. I agree with whomever said that Ralph Lauren must have outsourced the designing aspect — it sure doesn’t look like anyone put a lot of thought into it.

So, you’re okay with the congress and the federal government telling a privately funded organization, the US Olympics, where their clothes must be made or, for that matter, where yours and my clothes must be made? Sounds kind of mandate-y to me.

I agree with your sentiment, but it is not the province of the federal government to be involved in this matter at all.

TXUS on July 13, 2012 at 9:21 PM

Actually, it is. The Olympic committee was formed and is under a mandate from the US government. US athletes chosen are official representatives of this country. Congress can yank that mandate any time they feel like it. If there were not corporate sponsors drooling over the chance to have their products associated with our teams the government would be ponying up the cash to send the athletes.

Whether they’re “ugly” or not is really beside the point. Is that enough for Harry “Clothing Czar” Reid to call for burning them? Save for the berets it’s a Wimbledon kinda look which is apropos for London. Guess who designed their official clothing?

I understand the beret picking up on the special forces, but people in this country don’t wear berets — not much anyway. You are more likely to see a cowboy hat than a beret even in NYC. The only group I know that wears berets outside the armed forces are the New Black Panthers–not a group anyone wants to imitate.

LL Bean and Cowboy boots and hat.

I know it has been done, but it its American. No one would mistake our team as European or anything else.

Whether they’re “ugly” or not is really beside the point. Is that enough for Harry “Clothing Czar” Reid to call for burning them? Save for the berets it’s a Wimbledon kinda look which is apropos for London. Guess who designed their official clothing?

Buy Danish on July 13, 2012 at 9:43 PM

We aren’t English, there was a dust up 236 years ago, and we became Americans. Maybe dressing the American athletes to look like Americans would be apropos.

Aren’t the Olympics, like-oh I don’t know, about 2 weeks away? I would imagine the uniforms have been planned, designed, patterned, sized, ordered, bought, paid for, shipped, delivered, accounted for, distributed and maybe even packed by now. How much time, effort and trouble, not to mention BIG, VERY big extra $$$$ would it cost at this point to remake them, reorder them, redistribute them, etc, etc, etc? Not at all opposed to made in the USA, if that’s done anymore, and we definitely should consider it for next time, but geez,now? Many in our government seem way too perpetually poised to spring into government action with more regulation, mandates and or taxes, whatever the Supremes would say this is, at the drop of a beret with a made in Someothercountry label. Perhaps the esteemed Congresspersons should be checking the labels on their own clothing for future law violations as well. New uniforms? More $$$? More laws? Now? This late? Over this? Ridiculous.

Now, if any of ‘em notice that the beret for the US sports a French flag and that the women’s scarf is really just another elongated French flag to boot, and they want to get some US flag decals or a few stars to correct that faux pas, more power!

I dunno, dressing to express a little of our country’s very real French heritage at an Olympic games held in London isn’t all that bad of an idea really. And, seriously, we are going to start caring at this late date about our uniforms being made in China? We should have included a buggy whip with every uniform -I bet those are still all made right here in the good ol’ US of A in a union shop…

It isn’t that a beret, per se, necessarily should be a problem. I liked the Roots ones a couple of winter Olympics ago. A lot of people did and bought them. Bet someone or some ones made some good old capitalist profit. However, a beret displaying a French flag intended for athletes representing the US IS a problem, as is a long French flag to wrap around the necks of female US athletes. Congress and media aren’t even talking about that. Do you supposed they don’t recognize the French Tricolor when they see it?

Geez people, Ralph Lauren(Ralph Lipschitz) is from the Bronx. He’s proud to be an American and promotes it in his designs. Of all the American designers, along with Tommy Hilfiger, he is the one most inclined to not follow European fashions. I like the idea of supporting an American designer. Harry Reid is a jerk.

We aren’t English, there was a dust up 236 years ago, and we became Americans. Maybe dressing the American athletes to look like Americans would be apropos.
Dr Evil on July 13, 2012 at 9:49 PM

Oh please! It has not a thing to do with whether or not we declared our Independence from the British. One should dress depending on the destination. Cowboy hats and Levis for example) aren’t appropriate for a formal city setting like London – I don’t care how “American” they are.

BTW, are you into the Kardashians too? It’s fascinating to me that so many people have allowed themselves to be distracted by this shiny object of a story ginned up by Harry and Nancy.

Anyone know where the Olympic medals were manufactured? Probably not in the US. Reid may become incensed and put forth legislation requiring they be piled and burned too! Or, the winners could refuse to destroy their awards and pay a tax instead.

The 1994 Lillehammer Games medals, for example, were actually made of granite, carved from the huge underground ice hockey arena carved out of ancient rock in Gjovik, across the lake from Lillehammer…could fit three 747’s inside if the front doors were big enough. Each granite medal was encased in a ring/embellishment of gold-plated silver, silver or bronze.

I would be thrilled too if a Rochester based suit maker made the uniforms. I wouldnt call it protectionism, but national pride,

The US Olympic committee occupies a protected position in this nation anyway. No one else is allowed to hold a ‘olympics’ by law, due to the protectionism of Congress

The Committee is so protected it can get big Dems like Lauren to design un-American looking Euro-wuss uniforms , I suppose to get the masses to stop thinking ‘cowboy’ and start thinking United Nations

However, I would rather our soldiers first used only American made items, and the electronics in our warplanes, weapons and mil computers systems be made only in the USA of USA components for the sake of security. That ought to be the real priority of the Congress, since they already sold the Olympics to the Committee

I’m still confused. Why didn’t anyone complain before about this? I mean we’ve had all kinds of USA Olympic uniforms made in Asian countries from Nike to Adidas, heck even Levis are produced in China. I’m not saying it’s right. Just curious as to why it’s such a big deal now. And does Harry Reid know that Ralph Lauren is a big Dem supporter? LOL
Actually it’s only a big deal now for Harry & Company because it’s an election year and jobs are a big issue.

I presume this would only have effect on the 2016 Olympics which is four years away; however, it has priority over appropriations bills, a budget dealing with the taxmageddon coming at the end of the year etc. etc.? Big elections over small issues indeed.

In three years they can’t find the wherewithal to pass a budget, but they can get right on this? Seriously though, this is the libs answer to every problem — more government, more regulation — because apparently no problems can be solved any other way.

I looked in on the comments about this yesterday and then I went to the Ralph Lauren site to see the uniforms for myself.

Not only are they ugly, but they’re boring.

PatriotGal2257 on July 13, 2012 at 9:28 PM

Duh :), all uniforms are boring, by definition…that’s the idea, uniformity through repetition of the same pattern/design/cut/colors…..you’d be hard pressed to find anything original or exciting in the uniform designs department…I think Lauren’s design is ok, nothing spectacular, just very Lauren, with the polo shirts and all, which are pretty iconic and a constant in his artistic/fashion portfolio…

Perhaps they could focus on a few more pressing issues like a budget and a stack of bills that made it out of the house

Funny today cnn had olympic uniforms front and center
And no mention of Obama’s gutting of welfare reform

How do you think the poor athletes feel
Nothing like a huge negative stigma going into their big event

audiotom on July 14, 2012 at 12:52 AM

Exactly….the overreaction by the lawmakers is pathetic, the faux outrage ridiculous and ultimately demagogic…the athletes are negligible quantities in all this, the least important entities in the Olympics, what with such a fat, manufactured ‘scandal’ opportunity on the politicians’ hands :)…not to mention that it gives Reid the perfect excuse to deflect from the criticism of his third consecutive failure (as in three consecutive years) to pass a budget…heh, budget, a footnote really in the current political context dominated by these darn Olympics uniforms made in China (like everything else), our main creditor :)…quite the scandal :)..

Just wondering where they think most of the shoes and athletic equipment the athletes will be using was made. Nike? Reebok? Not made in the USA as far as I know, so those fugly uniforms being made in China is no big deal as far as I’m concerned. It’s just one more thing.

Why don’t these guys bring up a budget? You know, doing your da#n job instead of looking around for something to get upset about. The uniforms are another distraction from the running this country into the ground job being done by the regime.

236 years ago Americans stopped being British. We are not part of the United Kingdom. If you don’t understand that you are not a subject of the Queen of England, you should be sending them your “Taxes” to support the British Empire.

This from a body that can’t make the time to put together a budget, which is WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR! With “leaders” like this, is there any hope for the Republic? It’s really very difficult to remain optimistic about my kids future with worthless skin bags like these in power.

too bad we can’t even be entirely certain our president was Made in the USA and fits the criteria laid out in the Constitution.

no, best to be in a legislative tizzy over berets and ugly yuppie togs- that best serves the people, rule of law, and constitution of the united states. it’s not like the esteemed senators haven’t previously and handily passed a budget and everything else vital to our government and financial health.

a looming constitutional crisis over berets- yes, that’s of the utmost importance. better get right on it, dingy.

Go ahead and laugh Erika. One day when there are so few people making $$ in this country because of offshoring, then maybe few will be able to puchase advertising on websites like Hotair. Then finally/maybe people like you, standing in the unemployment line, will realize how foolish/reckless it is to “not” protect our nations economy. Meanwhile the dem’s continue to get mileage off of this “outsourcing of US jobs issue”. (yes thats why Bho and MR are tied at 47% each). Now I’ll hold my nose and vote straight GOP in Nov “but” I’m grateful that Reid and BHO are bringing this issue out into the arena to be debated. We Republicans are certainly scared to death of this issue and would rather pretend it didn’t exist. All I can say is that Romney had best start talking about it. Its not going away.

So laugh it up Erika but remember, BHO can still (and probably will) win on 11/6/12 at the rate we’re going. And thats nothing to laugh about. DD

The Olympics are less than two weeks away. We couldn’t possibly get new American made costumes that would fit everyone. Well there is a solution.

Buy each American Olympic athlete the following: one white tee shirt, one pair of red underwear (boxers), a pair of blue jeans, and a pair of Chuck Tailor black high top tennis shoes. It shouldn’t be hard to find each of the preceding items that are made in America. Now have each athlete dress in the newly purchased clothing. Now here comes the best part (and I think this started in the United States in the 90’s because some prisoners weren’t allowed belts). Have them sag. They would be all dressed in red, white and blue – how American. Now get ball caps with the American flag on it and each athlete could put them on, sideways of course. Gangbangers?

I’ve seen pictures of those Ralph Lauren designed, French looking, non-American, yachting and airline uniform blazers. Yuck! I think the gangbanger costume would look better. By the way the Ralph Lauren costume is not even an original idea. In the Navy there is a little known arrangement of an officer’s dress blue coat and white trousers with white shoes. It’s called yachting blues but has no French beanie.

And don’t forget to VOTE OUT all the “lawmakers” associated with the “The U.S. Olympic Committee was 100 percent wrong to outsource the manufacturing of U.S. uniforms for the opening ceremony to China” bill in November. Congress is corrupt and a worldwide laughing stock. Make getting rid of them as important to you as this bill is to them.

Really. Nobody would have known or cared if the outfits did not look sooo damn stupid. USOC spent something like $900,000 on them. That’s a lot of training resources that were lost to some idiot’s need for chichi style. Maybe Harry can hold hearings on steroids in sports fashion and prosecute Ralph Lauren.

they think the American public is stupid and is easily distracted by such inane topics. It shows the contempt they have for us while they sell us out lock, stock, and barrel. There are 23 senate dems up this year and I will be disappointed if half are returned. please throw them out.

I haven’t read everything, but this is just stupid, not to mention that the Olympics begin on July 27th, not quite two weeks away. Sure, we have time to start over with the uniforms. Why should we even think about it? Just because some ridiculous politicians want to look patriotic, I guess. Well, there are many more ways to be patriotic. I suggest they look up some of those.

These morons have labeled themselves exactly that. When I see this kind of nonsense going on it only proves to me how completely inconsequential, insignificant, worthless and illogical these so-called “leaders” are. Quite a pathetic bunch.

Give me a break. It’s not like the Democrats actually care about anything uniquely American. Aren’t they the first people to sing lines from a cheesy song in High School Musical when the subject of international ANYTHING comes up?

What if all of your food, clothing, shelter, tools, etcetera were the product of your own two hands, without any specialized employment in which you earned money to buy these things? How much more rich and well-off do you think you’d be?

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Actually, for those with a regular job, thanks to the taxes on every thing, you are better of to do it yourself

Say you make $40.000 a year, $20/hour. For those with low income, after paying for all essentials, not a lot is left so saving $40 by doing your garden work yourself in your spare time makes sense.

Say you make $100.000 a year, $50/hour. Currently, with all your taxes in income !!and spenditure!! You easily loose 30% federal + 10% state + 10 % salestax + 15% hidden taxes such as SS,medi-whatever and keep only $20 for extra hour worked. So why not do some healthy yardwork, have the satisfaction instead of paying someone for one hour what would take your two hours ? And those two hours you save is what you use to earn his wages. O, and than you still have to spend extra time on your tax return to fill in and pay his tax and you have to fill up to drive to the gym and you need to pay the gym for the excercise.
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Really. Nobody would have known or cared if the outfits did not look sooo damn stupid. USOC spent something like $900,000 on them. That’s a lot of training resources that were lost to some idiot’s need for chichi style. Maybe Harry can hold hearings on steroids in sports fashion and prosecute Ralph Lauren.

ironked on July 14, 2012 at 5:22 PM

jeez, what part of it was private money that financed this effort you don’t get??? and no, those money couldn’t have been used for training of the athletes, as you put it, because probably the entities/businesses, private individuals, etc who raised the funds for the uniforms are from the fashion world, and did all this with a purpose, could be advertising, etc…do you think the RL brand will get some boost and advertising opportunities out of this?? duh…stop acting like the dimtards, you have no right whatsoever to tell people who put their own private money into this whole thing how to use them, or what uniforms to choose how much to pay for them…its’ THEIR decision, get that…

Go ahead and laugh Erika. One day when there are so few people making $$ in this country because of offshoring, then maybe few will be able to puchase advertising on websites like Hotair. Then finally/maybe people like you, standing in the unemployment line, will realize how foolish/reckless it is to “not” protect our nations economy.